Drivers headed through Penn Township should avoid Paintertown Road between Route 130 and Simpson Road, until PennDOT crews are able to address a slide that took place on Thursday morning.

Police chief John Otto said police were notified about the road by a motorist shortly before 8 a.m. Thursday morning. PennDOT crews are on the scene, as it is a state-maintained road.

The large crack appeared in the area of 1149 Paintertown Road, according to township officials.

“In our district, we have more than 250 slides, which is a big number,” said PennDOT District 12 Spokeswoman Valerie Petersen. “We monitor them and address them depending on each individual situation.”

PennDOT officials will erect concrete barriers today, Thursday, and alternating traffic will be controlled by a stop sign. Area residents are likely familiar with that scenario, as another recent slide already damaged the road about 100 yards away, Petersen said.

“We have to prioritize them, in terms of what gets worked on,” she said. “Typically, we don’t get as much money as we definitely need in this area. … Long story short, it will remain a single-lane condition until we can get money to repair it.”

Western Pennsylvania is among the areas of the country with the highest potential for landslides, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, owing to bedrock composed of shale and claystone in many places. Both are soft rocks prone to weathering, and when claystone deteriorates into clay, it does not allow water to drain, becoming a lubricant enabling slides to occur, according to PennDOT officials.

Patrick Varine is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Patrick at 724-850-2862, pvarine@tribweb.com or via Twitter @MurrysvilleStar.

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